RealGM

Ricky Romero has come a long way in a hurry since the final weeks of spring training.

From being out of the running for a spot in the rotation, to being back into contention, to making the team, it has been a rocketship to the top for the Blue Jays' 25-year-old left-hander.

Three games into his first major-league season, Romero now has pitched himself into the position of being the second-best starter on the staff, next to Roy Halladay.

Facing Oakland yesterday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game series, all Romero did was blank the A's on four hits over seven innings and earn his second victory of the season as the Jays logged their first shutout of 2009 in a 1-0 triumph.

With the victory, the Jays moved to 10-4 on the season and have won all four of their series.

"The way he is pitching, he is certainly pitching like a No. 2 starter," manager Cito Gaston said of his rookie, who has logged 21 innings in his three starts to tie for the team lead with Halladay. "It's good to see. He has pitched great. From his first start, he's been just a little better every time he goes out there."